It's a New Year (OUTSPOKEN_DIVA's Favorite Recipes)

It's that time of the year for people to reset the clock on their lives in some places that need turning around. Some called the process, New Year Resolutions. Some people say, "New Year, New Me". Whatever you call it I just hope " Learning to Cook" or "Teaching the Young People in My Life to Cook" is on that list of things to do. Matter of fact, since this word is on trend, I CHALLENGE You to Learn to Cook and/or Teach a Young Person to Cook. Not cooking is a common issue in my line of work. Yeah, there are healthy ways to eat out but they are null & void if you never eat healthy in. And the children are being affected. Yes, the kids get underfoot but bring them in to learn to cook. Their future depends on it.

The recipes for these posts are healthy updates to traditional New Year's Day recipes for wealth & luck. I feel they shouldn't only be eaten on that day. People talk about eating more non-animal sources of protein. We encourage the masses to eat leafy greens daily. Yet, we only eat a spoonful of peas once a year and our leafy greens are boiled out of their nutrients.

I love black-eyed peas with snaps beans. But like the rest of the canned foods, I don't love the high amounts of sodium & aluminum. Well, I was lucky to have found this recipe.

Black-Eyed Peas with Snaps

Ingredients

• 1 lb shelled black-eyed peas, or 3/4 lbs dried, soaked
• 6 c vegetable broth or water
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 Tbsp garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp dried parsley
• 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp celery powder
• 1/2 c cut green beans (fresh or frozen)
• 2 Tbsp butter or margarine

Directions

1. In a large saucepan bring water, peas, onions, beans, seasoning, and beans to a boil. Save butter or margarine until the end.
2. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer on medium-low heat for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until peas are tender and liquid starts to thicken. Taste for seasonings and add salt if desired.
3. Just before serving, add butter or margarine and stir well.

Gentrified greens & cabbage recipes don't mean they won't have meat in them. We saw those pork pieces in the infamous Neiman Marcus greens a few years ago. But boiling them to death in salted fatted pieces of ham or bacon is still a horrible way to eat them. Yeah, that's not a recipe for Prosperity I want to use.

Healthy Fried Cabbage

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 2 medium carrots, cut into matchstick size
• 1 medium cabbage, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup water

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add onions, garlic, thyme and cook until onion is soft about 2 minutes.
3. Stir in carrots cabbage, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and salt
4. Add water, cover and cook for 10 minutes or until cabbage is tender and serve.

Vegan Sauteed Collard Greens

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 pounds collard greens, chopped
• 2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste.

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Cook garlic, stirring often, until golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
2. Stir in collard greens
3. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add water & lemon and steam, covered, until greens are just tender and evaporate about 10 minutes. If greens are ready but there is still water in the pan, raise heat to medium-high, and cook, uncovered until completely evaporated.

All adults need to know how to cook

and eat in manners that help maintain a healthy life. It all comes with education and willfulness to learn.

So, do OUTSPOKEN_DIVA a favor. Take the Challenge! Learn & Teach about food, whenever you and while you can

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms